It’s finally feeling like fall, and your social media’s about to be flooded with photos of your friends, family, and aspirational influencers wearing cozy sweaters, cupping their hands around mugs of hot cider, butchering pumpkins, and, of course apple picking. Sure, it’s basic, but with so many apple-filled farms and orchards a lot closer to NYC than you may have thought, there’s no reason to avoid the quintessential autumn fun. These are the 12 best places near NYC for apple picking (along with corn mazes, pumpkin picking, hayrides, hard cider, food, and live music).

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North Salem, New York This family-owned and -operated orchard hosts its Fall Festival every weekend of September and October. There’s a $5 entrance fee to the festival and a $30 fee for a Harvest Moon picking bag, which holds about 25 pounds of apples (for reference, you use about 2 pounds in the average apple pie!). The festival’s hayrides, live music, games, farm animals, and apple cannons -- aka giant, custom-made and mounted potato guns that you load with apples and shoot at targets -- cost an additional $5–$10. It’s all cash only, so make sure to come prepared.

By public transport: 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take the Metro North Harlem Line towards Southeast to Croton Falls, then take a 2-mile taxi ride for the remaining 2 miles.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Newburgh, New York Three generations run this little family farm where picking your own fruits and vegetables has been an option for over 30 years. Apple picking starts in September, along with seasonal sweet corn, pumpkins, and gourds. After you fill your bag, explore the hay bale maze, duck pond, and “Little Village,” where kids (or you) can pretend to live in a tiny farmhouse. Admission to the farm is $3, or spring for a $10 season pass if you’re ready for the commitment.

By public transport: 2 hours. From Grand Central Station, take the Metro North Hudson Line towards Poughkeepsie to Beacon, then take a taxi for the remaining 8 miles.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Warwick, New York Starting Labor Day weekend, you can eat apple cider donuts, wander through the rose and herb gardens, choose a pumpkin from the patch, and pluck any of the 10 varieties of apples available throughout the season. Don't forget to stop off at the the orchard's winery, which uses its own apples and vineyards to make limited-edition wines, ciders, and even apple vodka. There are no admission or entertainment fees and you only pay for the apples you pick, so you can save your money for the wine.

By public transport: 1 hour and 20 minutes. From Port Authority Bus Terminal, take the 196 bus to 223' N of Iron Forge Road, then take a taxi for the remaining 4.1 miles.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Warwick, New York Inhale that fresh, fresh Hudson Valley air as you pick up to 14 varieties of apples in Masker’s extensive orchards. Its schedule lays out the best times to come for your favorite types, but you can always tune to FM 87.9 for ripening updates (if for some reason you still use the radio). Apples are paid for on your way out, but the farm lets you eat as many as you want while you're picking. The country store is also stocked with fall favorites like freshly made apple cider, pies, and local honey, and on weekends there's live music, pony rides, a haunted house, and an apple maze. They take credit cards for apples at the country store, but for everything else you’ll need cash -- there is an ATM on site.

By public transport: 1 hour and 50 minutes. From Port Authority Bus Terminal, take the 196 bus to the Warwick Park & Ride, then walk or take a taxi for the remaining .9 of a mile.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 40 minutes

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Poughquag, New York Start your day picking on the 120 acres of apple trees, where a half-bushel bag costs $26 and holds about 25 pounds of apples. In addition to the farm, Barton Orchards offers a live-actor haunted house called Rotten Core Manner, plus a “Fun Park,” which boasts two 60-foot slides, pedal carts, a bounce house, a 5-acre Corn maze, live music, and more. When you’re tired from picking and playing, relax at the Tap Room with local craft beers and hard ciders.

By public transport: 2 hours and 10 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take the Metro North Harlem Line towards Wassaic to Pawling, then take a taxi for the remaining 8 miles.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Highland, New York One of the few first-generation farms in the Hudson Valley, this 54-acre farm offers tractor-pulled wagon rides, a corn maze, and a petting zoo along with pick your own apples, pumpkins, pears, and gourds. Stop at The Tavern for a local cider or their weekend BBQ for a hot-off-the-grill meal. The “Honeycrisp Hysteria” festival starts September 1 and ends the 16th, so don’t miss everyone’s favorite variety.

By public transport: 2 hours and 15 minutes. From Grand Central, take the Metro North Hudson Line to Poughkeepsie, then take a taxi for the remaining 4.8 miles.By car from Grand Central: 2 hours

East Fishkill, New York This farm and orchard has been owned by the same family for almost 100 years and prides itself on its ecological farming practices. Coinciding with the apple-picking season, Fishkill hosts a Harvest Festival on weekends through mid-October with live music, hayrides, donuts, and cider. The outdoor Treasury Cider Garden boasts a “tree-to-glass” experience with gorgeous views of the 270-acre orchard and the Catskill mountains.

By public transport: 2 hours. From Grand Central Station, take the Metro North Hudson Line towards Poughkeepsie to Beacon, then take a taxi for the remaining 12 miles.By car from Grand Central: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Yorktown Heights, New York Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm—celebrating their 102nd anniversary this year—takes you from apples in September all the way to Christmas trees post-Thanksgiving. The farm has over a dozen varieties of apples to choose from, with a 1-peck minimum (about 11 pounds) for every two adults. There’s also a winery on-site, which offers tastings and bottles for sale on the weekends. Check out its harvest calendar to find the optimal time to pick your apples (and pumpkins).

By public transport: 1 hour and 20 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take Metro North’s Hudson line to Peekskill, then take a taxi for the remaining 7 miles.By car: 1 hour and 10 minutes

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Warwick, New York This Hudson Valley farm welcomes visitors to pick their own apples (and pumpkins) Thursday-Sunday from September to November. Prices start at $29 per half-bushel (22 pounds) of apples with free admission, and farm-goers are also allowed to pet and feed the farm animals, partake in hayrides, wander through the cornfields, and gawk at honey bees working hard to produce honey, which is also available to purchase at the farm.

By public transport: 2 hours. From Port Authority Bus Terminal, take either the 196 or 197 bus to Warwick Park & Ride, then take a taxi for the remaining 4.5 miles.By car: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Highland, New York From Labor Day weekend through Halloween, this orchard offers apple picking every day from 9am-6pm. Macintosh, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Empire are just a few examples of what you’ll be able to pick. Guests have the option to purchase a large bag (20–25 pounds) for $24 or a smaller bag (10–15 pounds) for $15. The orchard’s road stand sells goodies all from local businesses including baked goods, cheeses, barbecue sauce, and vinegars. There’s also a picnic area on the orchard, so visitors can pack a lunch to enjoy after a hard day’s work of apple picking.

By public transport: 2 hours and 10 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take Metro North’s Hudson line to Poughkeepsie, then take a taxi for the remaining 7 miles.By car: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Granite Springs, New York This family-owned Westchester County farm has been operating since 1828. Apple picking is available September-November and daily 9am-5pm, with over 20 varieties available. Weekend hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a farm stand, and fresh-baked pies and apple cider donuts are also available to visitors. It’s cash or check only, so do plan ahead.

By public transport: 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take Metro North’s Harlem line to Purdy’s, then take a taxi for the remaining 11.7 miles.By car: 1 hour and 20 minutes

New Paltz, New York Nestled in the Hudson Valley with the Shawangunk Ridge as a backdrop, this quaint orchard has over 500 apple trees for picking with nearly a dozen varieties of apples to choose from starting September 6. Bags by the peck and half-bushel are available for picking, and you’ll also find pumpkins at 40 cents/pound. The year-round farm stand is stocked with cider, fresh produce, jams, honey, baked goods, eggs, dairy, and local grass-fed beef.

By public transportation: 1 hour 50 minutes. From Port Authority Bus Terminal, take Trailways bus to New Paltz Park & Ride, then take a taxi for the remaining 5.3 miles.By car: 1 hour and 40 minutes

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Caroline King is a freelance writer based in Buffalo who wishes the words “bushel” and “peck” were used more often in everyday conversation. Follow her on Twitter, or read about her travels on her blog.

Sarah Anderson is a former production assistant at Thrillist and, given her height, is hitting up the dwarf trees. Follow her to the orchard on Instagram at @smileforsarah and on Twitter @Sarah_JFA.

Check out our other guides to the best apple picking and orchards to visit in New Jersey and Boston.